St. Clair Shores teen avoids jail in stabbing of friend

A 17-year-old high school student avoided more time behind bars for the drug-induced stabbing of a friend, thanks in large part to the friend’s forgiveness.

Shane Spatafore was placed on three years probation by Judge Mary Chrzanowski under a special program for young-adult offenders after the victim asked the judge not to give him jail time. He already served 30 days in the Macomb County Jail.

“One mistake. … He’s a good person who doesn’t belong in jail,” Justin Covyeow told the judge. “He was one of my best friends and still is one of my best friends. I would trust him with my life.”

Spatafore stabbed Covyeow four times in the mid-section about 2:30 a.m. Sept. 3 at Covyeow’s home in the 22000 block of 13 Mile Road in St. Clair Shores. Spatafore fled and was Tasered nearby by police. Covyeow underwent surgery for a severed artery and punctured lung, a published report says, and has recovered.

Advertisement

The two young men were classmates at Lake Shore High School, and Spatafore “was a good teammate” on the basketball team, Covyeow said. Spatafore also played football at the time.

His behavior was blamed on being under the influence of LSD, an illegal hallucinogenic drug.

“Either you got some bad drugs, or the drugs had a bad effect on you,” Chrzanowski said, adding later: “I hope this taught the boys a lesson on the effects of drugs.”

Chrzanowski praised Covyeow.

“You are a grand young man,” she said. “To say the things you’re saying, you’re going to grow up to be a wonderful man.”

Spatafore previously pleaded guilty to the added count of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm, in exchange for dismissal of the more serious charge, assault with intent to commit murder. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of resisting arrest and one count of malicious destruction of property for damaging a picnic table while fleeing. Under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, the convictions will be erased from Spatafore’s record if he complies with probation conditions.

If the judge rejected HYTA status, she would have considered ordering him to spend between 29 and 57 months in prison.

Assistant Macomb prosecutor Steven Fox agreed with the plea deal and didn’t oppose HYTA based on the wishes of the victim and his family.

Spatafore has been completing high school coursework at home and intends to graduate this spring, and is taking classes at Macomb Community College, said his attorney, David Pietroski.